Regulator for fluid-compressors.



W. M. DONALDSON. REGULATOR FOR FLUIDCOMPRESSORSL APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1912.

Patented {Maya 1, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SflEiT l- W. M. DONALDSON. REGULATOR FOR FLUID COMPRESSORS APPLICATION FILED JULY 25, 1912- Patented May 4 [Mint/35w.

W. M. DONALDSON'. REGULATOR FOP! FLU'I'D COMPRESSOR S.

APPLICATION min JULY\25- 191'2.

Patented May 4:, 1915,

a SHEETS-SHEET},

'liiillllllllIHlj Illlillllllll I E 'lmnmmmnlijuu WILLIAM MAGIFARLANI) non uman, or New YORK, N. 5L, ASSIGNOR T0 Increases:-

RAND COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,- A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

REGULATOR FLUID-GOMPRES$GBS Specification of Letters Patent.

racemes my 4,1915.

Application filed July 25, 1912. Serial No. 711,561.

livercd from a compressor while the compressor is permitted to run at a constant speed, the power consumed in driving the compressor being-varied in proportion to the amount of air being delivered.

My invention consists in providinga regulater of novel form whereby the above stated object may be obtained. by holdingtlic discharge valves of the compressor open for different periods of the suction stroke according to the amount of air it is desired to lclivei- .)ast them.

Some ol the advantages which arise from the use of my novel regulator are, its simplicity and positiveucss in action. with no delicate or complicated parts: its ready attachuient to compressors now in use without:

- ex 'icnsive alterations; the elimination of the choking controller: the reduction in expense. of operation: an equal ellicicncv at dill'cient loads: and the increase and decrease of the load in proportion to the amount of air in ouircd, with a coiu tant speed of compressor and the control of the driving power.

The invention is shown and described herein in connection with a straight-line, power-driven compressor, of the single-stage, doublc-actlng type, but it is to be understood that it'lnay be applied to cmnpressors of various t y pes witl'iout' departing. from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side; elevation, showing the regua base 3. This shaft 1 is driven from the.

crank shaft 4 of the compressor through a chain and sprocket connection 5, 6, 7, the sprockets being preferably of the same size. An eccentric 8 is fixed to the shaft 1 and it is connected by means of a strap 9 and rod 10 to the inner arm 11 of a rocking link 12 pivoted at 13 to a suitable frame. 14 uprisino 7 .from the base A piston valve 15 slides in a valve seat 16 and is connected by a rod 1'? ton block 18, which is movable in an elongated slot 19 in-the outer arm 200i the rocking link 12 toward and away from its axis 13. The valve 15 is provided with three reduced portions iornnng circumferential bridge ports 21, 22, divided by the two faces 24, The valve seat 16 is provided with two ports 26, 27, leading to external atmosphere through ports 28, 39, in the valve chest 30. This valve seat is further provided with an intermediate port 31 in constant communication with the discharge side of the compressoi" through a passage formed by the pipe 32-, which pipe may lead to any desired p ointl eyond the discharge valves of the.

compressor. The valve seat 16,,is further provided with ports 33, connected with the backs of the discharge valves 35, 36, of the compressor through passages formed by the pipes 37, 38L

The arrangement of the ports in the Valve.

seat 16 and valve 15 is such that when the valve is in its position half-way between the limits of its movement both the discharge valves 35 and 36 have discharge pressure be-. hindthem by the open communication between the ports 31, 33, 31, and the central valve port 22. The faces 24, 25, of the valve 15 are so arranged that as the valve starts to move to the left, the face 25 will first cut off communication between the ports 31 and 31 and finally open the communication between the port 34; and exhaust port 27 through the valve port 23, thus releasing pressure from behind the discharge valve 35. As the valve moves to the right from its midwav )osition its face 24: will.

first cut off communication between the ports 33 and 31 and finally open the port 33 to the exhaust port 26 through the valve port L1, thus releasing pressure from behind the discharge valve 36.

The object of my invention is to provide means under the control of variations in; fluid pressure for automatically releasing operated as follows.

pressor piston without changing the speed of the compressor piston, thus varying the capacity according to the'requirement and also varying the power required to drive the compressor piston accordingly. "This means for controlling the movement of the valve 15, is constructed, arranged and A vertically arranged cylinder 39 is mounted on the frame 14, vvithin which cylinder is fitted a piston 40,

its rod 41 sliding freely in a hollow guide sleeve 42, adjustable in a supplemental frame 43 uprising from the frame 14:- The bottom of this piston 40 is at all times in open communication with receiver pressure through a passage formed by the pipe 44. This piston 40 carries a weight holder 45 which surrounds the cylinder 39 and isweighted to the desired extent by the weights 46. The movement of this holder 4-5 and thereby the piston 40 may be further I retarded by means of a coil spring 47 interposed between the top of the holder 45 and the adjustable guide sleeve 42. The tensionof this spring may be adjusted by adjustn'ient ot' the said sleeve d2. This holder 45 is connected to the connecting rod 17 by a connecting rod 48 so that the block 18 t which the rod 17 is connected at the link 12 is/ moved along the slot 19 toward and away from the axis of said link by the movement of the piston 40 and holder 45. To prevent a too rapid movement of the holder in either direction, it is connected to the plunger 49 of a dash-pot 50 through a rock lever 51, pivoted at 52 to the supplemental frame t3.

When the parts are in their normal positions, the end of the valve connecting rod 17 at the link 12 is in alinement with the axis of said link so that the oscillatory movement of the link, due to its connection with the eccentric 8, will impart no movement to the valve 15 and the discharge valves 35, 36, of the compressor will consequently remain with pressure behind them and the compressor be permitted to compress its full amount of air and discharge it to the receiver.

After the receiver pressure hasbeen raised to a predetermined point, any further raise in n'essure will start the .piston 40 of the regulator on its upward movement, thus raising the connection of the valve rod 17 with the link 12 away from alinement with the axis of said link and thereby causingl'(3Cl]')lO(i;ll'.l()fl of the controlling valve 15. This reciprocation ol the controlling, valve due to the oscillation of the link and lifting of the regulator piston will automatically release pressure from behind the discharge valves 35, 36, thereby holding them open such parts as may be for a greater or lesser period of time, ac cording to the distance which the regulator piston has raised the connection of the 0d 17 with thelink 12 away from the axis of the said link. It will be seen that this regulation is accomplished without interfering with the constant speed of the compressor.

It will also be seen that this variation in piston, will, therefore, vary the power re quired to reciprocate said piston in proportion to said times of closing of the discharge valves. It will also be seen that by holding open the discharge valves, the air is given back to the compressor and is not lost. It will be seen that the parts may be adjusted so as to cause the closing of the dis charge valves to be accon'iplished at various pressures. It is also preferable that a slight movement may be imparted to the controlling valve Without affecting the time of closing of the discharge valves.

It is evident that a regulator of the character herein shown and described is applicable for use in connection with single or compound compressors, with duplication of ecessary for accomplishingthe results above numerated.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a fluid compressor, its piston, means of driving it, a discharge valve and fluid pressure controlled means for automatically applying fluid pressure to and releasing the fluid pressure from behind the discharge valve for loading and unloading it for varying periods of time during the stroke ofthe piston.

2. In combination, a fluid compressor, its piston, means of driving it, a discharge valve and means controlled by variations in pressure for automatically applying fluid pressure to and releasing the fluid pressure from behind the discharge valve for loading and unloading it for varying periods of time during the stroke of the piston.

23. In combination, a fluid compressor, its piston, means of driving it, a discharge valve and fluid pressure controlled means for autoimitically applying fluid pressure to and releasing the fluid pressure from behind the discharge valve for loading and unloading it for varying periods of time during the stroke of the piston without changing the speed of the piston.

4. In combination, a fluid compressor, its piston, means oi driving it, a discharge valve and means controlled by variations in pressure for automatically applying fluid pressure to and releasing the fluid pressure from behind the discharge valve for loading and unloading it for varying periods of time during the stroke f the piston without changing the speed of the piston.

5. In combination, a fluid compressor, its

periods of time during the stroke of the piston.

6. In combination, a fluid compressor, its piston, means of driving it, a discharge valve, and fluid pressure controlled means for automatically applying fluid pressure to and releasing the fluid pressure from behind the discharge valve for varying the quantity of fluid delivered by the compres- 15' 'sor and varying the power consumed by the compressor piston driving means in proportion to the fluid delivered.

7 In combination, a fluid compressor, its piston, means of driving it at a constant speed, a discharge valve, and fluid pressure controlled means for automaticallyapplying fluid pressure to and releasing the fluid pressure from behind the discharge valve for varying the quantity of fluid delivered 25' by the compressor and varying the power consumed by the compressor ipiston driving 8. In combination, a fluid compressor, its driving means, a discharge valve and a controlling valve therefor connected to the driving means for holding open and closing the discharge valve under predetermined conditions.

9, In combination, a double-acting fluid ,gcoinpressor, its driving means, discharge valves and a controlling valve therefor con- .nected to the driving means for alternately holding open and closing the discharge valves under predetermined conditions.

1-0; In combination, afluid compressor, its

uid delivered.

piston, means of driving it, a discharge valve, a controlling valve therefor connected to the piston driving means and means for varying the throw of the controlling valve to hold open the discharge valve for varying periods of time duringthe stroke of the piston.

11. In combination, a double-acting fluid compressor, its piston, means of driving it, discharge valves, a controlling valve therefor' connected to the piston driving means, and means for varying the throw ofthe controlling valve to alternately hold open the discharge valves for varying periods of time during the strokes of the piston.

12. In combination, a fiuid compressor, its piston, means of driving it, a discharge valve, a controlling valve therefor connected to the piston driving means, and fluid pres sure operated means for varying the throw of the controlling valve. to hold open the discharge valve for varying periods of time durin the stroke of the nston;

13. n combination, a ouble-acting fluid compressor, its piston, means of driving it, discharge valve, a controlling valve therefor connected to the piston. driving means, and fluid pressure operated means for vary ing the throw of the controlling valve to alternately hold open the discharge valves for varyin periods of time during the strokes of t e piston.

In testimony that claim the forego ng as my invention, I have signed my name in resence of two Witnesses, this 23rd day of v uly 4 WILLIAM MACFARLAND LONALDSON. Witnesses:

FRED T. Ovmrron, PHILIP BURWELL Goons. 

